Berroco Hopedale Blanket Knitting Pattern

Berroco Hopedale Knit Throw Blanket

What is Being Made

The Berroco Hopedale is a knit throw blanket designed by Brenda York, featured in Berroco Booklet #367. This finished blanket measures approximately 48 inches wide by 60 inches long, making it an ideal size for draping over furniture or using as a cozy lap throw. The project is rated at an Easy skill level, making it accessible to knitters with basic experience.

Construction and Techniques

The Hopedale throw is constructed using a seamed, worked-flat approach, composed of 4 separate strips that are knitted individually and then joined together. This modular construction method allows knitters to work on manageable sections rather than managing a large piece on the needles throughout the entire project.

The throw features striped colorwork created through strategic yarn combinations. The pattern alternates between two main stitch techniques:

• Garter Stitch sections: These are worked by combining the main color (MC) with one contrast color (CC) held together as a single strand
• Stockinette Stitch sections: These sections feature two contrast colors held together simultaneously, creating visual interest and texture variation

Stitches Used

The Hopedale employs two fundamental knit stitches throughout the design:

• Garter Stitch: Created by knitting every row, this stitch produces a dense, textured fabric with horizontal ridges. In this pattern, Garter Stitch sections are worked by holding the main color yarn together with a contrast color
• Stockinette Stitch: Produced by alternating knit and purl rows, this stitch creates a smooth fabric with characteristic V-shaped stitches on the right side. The Hopedale's Stockinette sections are worked with two contrast colors held together as one

Materials and Yarn

The Hopedale throw requires specific Berroco yarns chosen for their complementary colors and textures:

• Main Color (MC): 5 balls of Berroco Boboli Lace (100 grams each) in shade #4302 Emerald
• Contrast Color 1 (CC1): 2 balls of Berroco Andean Mist (25 grams each) in shade #6301 Alpamayo
• Contrast Color 2 (CC2): 2 balls of Berroco Andean Mist in shade #6323 Chachani
• Contrast Color 3 (CC3): 2 balls of Berroco Andean Mist in shade #6317 Misti
• Contrast Color 4 (CC4): 2 balls of Berroco Andean Mist in shade #6328 Cerro Bayo

The Berroco Boboli Lace serves as the primary yarn for the main color sections, while the Berroco Andean Mist yarn in four distinct colorways provides the contrast elements. The Andean Mist shades—Alpamayo, Chachani, Misti, and Cerro Bayo—are named after Andean peaks, creating a thematic color palette.

Needles and Gauge

The pattern calls for straight knitting needles in size 11 (8.00 mm), though knitters should size up or down as needed to achieve the correct gauge. The recommended gauge is 15 stitches and 26 rows over 4 inches in Garter Stitch, worked with the main color held together with any contrast color. Achieving proper gauge is essential to ensure the finished blanket reaches its intended dimensions of 48 inches wide by 60 inches long.

The pattern includes a note emphasizing the importance of checking gauge before beginning: "TO SAVE TIME, TAKE TIME TO CHECK GAUGE." This reminder underscores that taking time to verify gauge prevents potential sizing issues in the final project.